• Therarebelle

the RARE belle

~ a southern gal's guide to all things fabulous in food, fashion, finery and frippery

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Tag Archives: decor

what’s ringin’ our belle…round 127

07 Tuesday Nov 2017

Posted by theRAREbelle in what's ringin' our belle

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decor, Desire to Inspire, entertaining, Harvard Health, Nails, pumpkin bread, simply recipes, sugar, Well and Good

An awesome pumpkin bread…


From Simply Recipes
What’s the deal with sugar….according to a dietitian 


Photo via Harvard Health

Obsessed with this bachelor pad…


Via Desire to Inspire

What your nails say about your health from Well and Good…

Pic via Pinterest 

How to throw a dinner party like a Parisian…


Pic via Pinterest 



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what’s ringin’ our belle…round 126

24 Tuesday Oct 2017

Posted by theRAREbelle in what's ringin' our belle

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alexandra cooks, barneys, cauliflower, coffee table, Condé Nast, decor, half baked harvest, lacquer, shagreen, ski, snow, The Neotrad, Williams Sonoma

Shiny walls…belles love gettin’ lacquered up…


Via The Neo-Trad

We are addicted to roasted cauliflower…


Via Alexandra Cooks
Can’t have enough white tops!…


Via Barneys

It’s 5 o’clock somewhere…


Via Half Baked Harvest
A shagreen coffee table…

Via Williams Sonoma

Now that we are nearing ski season…dreamin’ of a getaway…


The top US ski destinations according to Condé Nast Traveler

We can hear your belles ringin’!

a&a



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what’s ringin’ our belle…round 120

29 Tuesday Aug 2017

Posted by theRAREbelle in what's ringin' our belle

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ceviche, Coco Kelley, decor, design, furniture, ice cream, Inc, LaDolceVita blog, nightstand, notes, One Kings Lane, Sabrina Modelle, simply recipes

Ringin’ belles this week…

A little design envy…

Via LaDolceVitaBlog.com

Some other options besides “regards“…


Via Inc.com

Thinking these would be be a great replacement for the nightstands that one teen belle absconded with a while back…

Via Onekingslane
How about this ceviche…

photo by Sabrina Modelle


Via Simplyrecipes

And this ice cream…


Via CocoKelley

If these don’t ring your belle, we don’t know what will!!

a&a

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belles want to take it outside….  

27 Thursday Apr 2017

Posted by theRAREbelle in belle maison

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barbara steele, decor, fabric, home, interior design, local, monogram, needlesandthread, outdoor, patio, porch, reupholstery, sunbrella

After a long winter and with spring upon us…we decided we needed to upgrade our outdoor seating. Our lovely Libby-belle was also a big contributor to this little endeavor! 


This little troublemaker is lucky she’s so cute.  If we could locate the pics, we’d show you what happened when she ate the stuffing right out of these cushions…but until then you’ll have to use your imagination.  Just picture a sea of white cotton candy all over a bright green backdrop. Lovely no? 

Anyhoo…time to do a lil refresh.  We went to a fabulous local lady who just happens to be very good at what she does (beyond good actually). Her name is Barbara Steele, and her company is Needles and Thread (needlesandthread.barbara@gmail.com – 281-974-7317). She can do anything. Really, anything! 


We picked a sunbrella outdoor fabric in a neutral, and then for a little fashion flair (and what any good southern belle would do)…a monogram ! 

The monogrammer did an incredible job don’t you think?  We used Missy Underwood of Underwood Embroidery, 120 East Main Street, Walhalla (864-718-5414).  And…of course…we always think bigger is better!


Love the idea of creating comfortable seating on the pillars!! 

Time to relax and enjoy!!

a&a

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baby bookshelf makeover…before and after

11 Thursday Feb 2016

Posted by theRAREbelle in belle maison

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bookshelf, decor, organizing

With all of our hibernating and hiding out this winter, what better time to do a little refresh???  One belle made use of a recent blustery day to do a little makeover. Here’s the bookshelf in zee kitchen…dusty, messy, not attractive…time to get busy!

  
Empty, dust and pile…watch a little Netflix …get back to bookshelf bidness…

  

Lots of piles…

  

Decide to remove covers for neatness and redecorating ease.  Begin returning books to shelves using color and frequency of use as guides.

  

Still have a ways to go… But showing signs of improvement!

  
Progress!!! Now time for a little touch of color. Chose to use some plates that were collecting dust in another room.. Lettuce belongs in zee kitchen !!

  

Now it’s time to pay bills and drink wine!!! 

We will try to organize the desk during the next snowstorm!!

A little refresh goes a long way as the whole room looks better…at least we think so!
a&a

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belles try their hand at painterly pumpkins

29 Thursday Oct 2015

Posted by theRAREbelle in belle maison, belle of the ball

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chinoiserie, decor, diy, enchanted home, fall, pumkins, Thanksgiving, the relished rooster

The season of gourds is upon us, and it seems everyone is getting more and more creative with that good ole pumpkin.  We happily hopped on the day train and came up with this: 

 Via therarebelle 

You might ask how we came up with something so ingenious. Well, the results were pretty good…and all ours…but we can’t take credit for the idea. We were cruising for some fall decorating ideas and stumbled across a few things on Pinterest that inspired us…. 

    
 

And then we happened upon these Chinoiserie Pumpkins !! Oh. My. Gawd.   You could have knocked us over with a feather!! 

Just take a gander at this from Enchanted Home : 

 Via enchanted home.com

And  this…

  
Via enchantedhome.com

And as we dug a little deeper, we came upon these from The Relished Roost

  
Via The Relished Roost

A nice bonus…we realized these incredible artists had these pretties available for purchase…and, with a little heads up, would even customize to a degree. So, of course, we tried to purchase a few for our fall table (bookshelves for the rest of the year!!). Alas…they were sold out.

Well, these belles are no quitters!  We decided this was the perfect time for us to try and get a little crafty ourselves.  So this is what we made with some acrylic paint, a few faux pumpkins, and some paint pens.  Don’t judge too harshly…but we do think they turned out alright for our first go at it…. 

 
Above pic is pencil sketching our design …

We decided to do a Paris Porcelain effect with a gold and white look …. 

    
    

And then we put them on display… 

 
So belles, Cinderella those pumpkins…they deserve to be the belles of the ball!!! 

(And they don’t have a midnight curfew!)

a&a

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decorating by the numbers…for the in-style home

22 Thursday Oct 2015

Posted by theRAREbelle in belle maison

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Ballard Designs, curtains, decor, decorating, drapery, home decor, InStyle, lighting, Pottery Barn, sofa, Susanne Kasler, Williams Sonoma

We ran across an article in the September INSTYLE that really rang our belle!  It listed loads of helpful tips from the “experts” on how to make any room look like you really know what you’re doing on the design-front. (and when in doubt…fake it, belle!!)

Here you go…in no particular order…we think they are all worth a share…

the Collins Sconce from Pottery Barn


66 inches…

Wall sconces should be installed just above eye level…around 66 inches from the floor…so the light doesn’t shine directly at you (and if you hang them too high, they will light the ceiling instead of the room

from homedit.com


30 inches…

your bed is generally about 30 inches from the floor…so why not put your nightstand on the same level??  That makes it the perfect height for the alarm, the book, the water…whatever needs to be within reach

from bestbuy.com


8 feet…the best distance for viewing a 42″ TV (the most common size) is 8 feet.  Adjust from there for larger or smaller screens

thebudgetfashionista.com


2 inches…An insert that is 2 inches larger than your pillow covers will make pillows seem plush and generous.

the Hunter Sofa from mgbwhome.com


84 inches…this is the minimum length for a comfy sofa that will seat up to four people (or one adult lying down). This size also plays nicely with a standard 60-inch coffee table.

the Hunter Sofa from mgbwhome.com



1 inch…leave an inch between furniture and the wall…this keeps the upholstery from looking squished and the paint from getting scuffed (a win-win)


29 watts…apparently,  GE’s 29 W Halogen Frosted bulb is the most face-flattering of all bulbs out there.  Thank goodness someone is studying this!!  A belle always wants/needs to look her best.  Just sayin’…

williamssonoma.com

This one photo has a plethora of belle-ringing decorating numbers…

7 feet…always hang an overhead lighting fixture at least 7 feet above the floor  (don’t want your NBA-sized friends bumpin’ a noggin’)

18 inches…we don’t want you (or those NBA-sized guests) bumpin’ a shin, either.   Leave 18 inches between your coffee table and the sofa or other seating

62 inches…the center of your artwork should be between 62 and 66 inches from the floor…that’s the standard measurement in most galleries (and it just makes for good viewin’)

cotedetexas.blogspot.com

1 1/2 inches…for a tailored drape, allow a break of no more than 1-2 inches (too much puddling can be messy for a tailored, streamlined curtain)

So there you have ’em, belles. It’s easy as 1-2-3 (or 66-30-8-2…)

Happy homing!

a&a

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absolutely flor-ed…a belle-maison share

24 Thursday Sep 2015

Posted by theRAREbelle in belle maison

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carpet, carpet squares, decor, Flor, home

We don’t know why we haven’t mentioned this before…but we happen to know of an absolutely brilliant flooring option that is ringin’ belles all over the world!  Our flor catalog arrived just the other day, and we realized it was our duty to do some sharin’.

Flor is the “smarter carpet” choice for your home and the planet.  Any design is possible…from novelty and area rugs to wall-to-wall…using their 19.7″ square tiles, and it’s no sweat when the pup (or clumsy guest) has an accident. Just pop out the unsightly tile and pop a fresh one in. Presto cleano!  And their Return and Recycle program is Mother Earth-friendly common sense.  

Take a gander…

flor.com- Positive Slant

We are loving this killer balcony using “Positive Slant” in Titanium!!

Inspired by the tire tracks on a California mountain road…

flor.com- Roadside Attraction

“Roadside Attraction” in Eggnog brings the mountain to the city

flor.com- Roadside Attraction

…and in Frost, it’s anything but frosty! (check out Tan, Haze and Dew, too!)

flor.com – Sweater Weather

Perfect for the cooler temps on their way…“Sweater Weather” makes ya want to cuddle the flor!

flor.com- Floweret

“Floweret” in titanium adds a tough feminine touch

flor.com- Mod Cow

while “Mod Cow” in Tan lets you explore your wild side

flor.com

And “Mod Cow” and many others can be ordered in rug sets that’ll knock your socks off!

Balcony. Den. Bedroom. Playroom. Dorm room. Garage, even. The possibilities are endless!!

Flor it, belles!

a&a

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come on in…door colors that say “welcome”

19 Thursday Feb 2015

Posted by theRAREbelle in belle maison

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decor, doors, home, Paint

If windows are the eyes of the home, the doors actually “speak” to those who approach, saying, “Come on in”. Just how that message is delivered depends on several factors…curb appeal, belles…but let’s focus on door color for now. A quick update…an easy fix…minimal commitment…a coat of paint can work magic!

Now, we understand, some belles prefer the traditional. Stained wood, black, and even red are beautiful, yet expected. Why not punch it up a bit, belles? A fun door color says “welcome” to guests and says “home sweet home” to yours truly.

A couple of belle-ringin’ examples…

IMG_2020

IMG_2021.JPG

We happen to know that these belles get a little giddy every time they walk in these happy-colored doors.

Now, one belle-friend recently decided it was time for an update of her own…

She has doors all the way across a loggia-style front porch, giving her many options for welcoming one and all…

IMG_1446.JPG

Above is a “before” shot…classic, yet fairly “business-like”…not quite fitting with this particular belle’s personality

IMG_1448.JPGIMG_1449.JPG

here are two of the colors this belle considered (the Chinese red is used in various places in the home’s interior, so it made sense to consider it as an option.  The chartreuse was a suggestion from a color-savvy consultant)

IMG_1457.JPG

and here is a soothing gray-blue which this belle had been pondering for a couple of years…don’t know what she was waiting for!

IMG_0055

The perfect choice, don’t you agree?

Let’s look at the before and after:

IMG_1447

IMG_0056.JPG

Brilliant!!  Welcoming, soothing…a belle-worthy upgrade!  These doors scream (softly), “Come in and stay a while”

a&a

 

 

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bringin’ the outdoors in…fabric smarts

17 Thursday Jul 2014

Posted by theRAREbelle in belle maison

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decor, home design, outdoor fabric, perrennials fabric, upholstery, velvet

Time for a reality check…we all have creatures creating messes in our humble abodes….dogs, husbands, cats, husbands, children, husbands, clumsy guests, husbands. (Did we mention husbands???) Although we belles strive to keep a fairly neat and tidy home, despite our best efforts, accidents and spills happen…usually on the most expensive fabric we own. Well, belles to the rescue!!!

Recently, one of us was forced out of her home and into a rental for 9 very long months. (Someday we may bore you with the saga if you show interest). Among the many tasks involved in getting the old homestead back in working order were repairing, replacing and recovering a substantial number of pieces of furniture. One such piece was the living room sofa.

This belle’s house contains two dogs, two daughters, and one spill-prone husband. So with a mandatory change on the forefront, we decided to make practical, yet belle-worthy choices.

This is where the idea of using high-end outdoor fabric came in…durable, stain resistant, and surprisingly luxurious, it just seemed to make sense. And although some of our suggestions might be a bit more expensive than other options, it is totally worth it knowing that a temper tantrum won’t ensue the moment a dog hops on the sofa, a child decides to eat Cheetos in the living room sans napkin, or the husband tells his best knee-slapper while serving red wine to guests who talk with their hands!!!

With outdoor fabric, cleaning is a piece of cake: mild detergent, club soda, or our particular fave, hydrogen peroxide, will remove most stains, spots and spills with ease.

Enter Perrennials…our favorite upscale outdoor fabric line. The website is open to the public and one can even order samples to decide which styles and colors suit your decor best. Once you know what you want, you will need a decorator to order. But…since you will have already made your choice(s), it should be a minimal cost outlay.

They have a terrific array of colors and fabrics…including velvet!!!

20140501-172414.jpg

20140501-172435.jpg

And pattern galore:

20140501-172536.jpg

20140501-172555.jpg

And what belle doesn’t like a little accessorizing??? They have trimmings aplenty:

20140501-172724.jpg

20140501-172738.jpg

So our first step into the perennials pool was both timid and daring at the same time. We wanted to keep it neutral (timid) in pattern so that we could add or change color when the mood arose. We picked a velvet because it is in the living room after all. And we picked white (daring) to lighten up the joint and because we wanted white…so there.

We chose “Between The Lines”…an elegant classic velvet which will stand the test of time and taste.

20140501-173244.jpg
In the color way Blanca

Divine isn’t it?? Couldn’t you just eat it with a spoon?!? So far we are loving our foray into the Perrennials ocean of fabulous options.

Here is how it all turned out…several months in mind you….

First, a close up:

20140501-215731.jpg

Gorgeous and still holding up like a champ!!

And now the panoramic view:

20140501-220642.jpg

20140501-220650.jpg

And there you have it!! So far we are most pleased. It has more than met our expectations. We know it will meet yours as well! One more peek just because we can…

20140505-185500.jpg

Cheers!!
a&a

34.833056 -82.394255

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